Planning Committee approves Waterdown subdivision of about 1,221 homes at 562 Dundas Street East, including a 12-storey building

What the committee approved

At a statutory public meeting on September 29, 2026, Hamilton's Planning Committee voted 9–0 to approve applications by Metropolitan Consulting Inc., on behalf of owner Penta Properties Inc., for an Urban Hamilton Official Plan Amendment, a Zoning By-law Amendment and a Draft Plan of Subdivision at 562 Dundas Street East, Flamborough (Ward 15), within the Waterdown South Secondary Plan.

Height, density and the Escarpment

The official plan amendment redesignates land along Dundas Street East to "Mixed Use Medium Density", relocates the collector road planned for the lands, updates natural heritage designations to match an Environmental Impact Study, and permits up to 12 storeys on the mixed-use block. Staff say it would raise permitted density on the lands from 60–100 units per net residential hectare to 250, and removes a reference in the site-specific policy to an adult lifestyle community.

Because the lands are on and next to the Niagara Escarpment, staff say the 12-storey building was identified as potentially affecting views. The zoning adds holding provisions: development on the Dundas Street block cannot proceed until an updated visual impact assessment is approved by the City and the Niagara Escarpment Commission, and any development above six storeys must show no negative impacts from the added height. Other holds wait on sanitary and water servicing for one block and on confirming the stormwater facility is properly sized for two others. Staff say the existing woodlot is protected, and that a Niagara Escarpment Commission permit was issued on September 1, 2026 for the southern portion of the lands, with a second permit needed before building permits.

What residents said

According to the committee minutes, two written submissions and two delegates at the meeting opposed the development, and the applicant's consultant spoke in support of the staff report.

What happens next

The committee's report and two by-laws for 562 Dundas Street East, Bills 176 and 177, were listed on Council's October 7, 2026 agenda. The committee approved the draft plan of subdivision, with special conditions, under By-law 07-323, the City's delegation of its subdivision approval authority; staff say the project is also subject to site plan control. The committee also approved requiring cash-in-lieu of parkland before each building permit.